AIT & Production Engineer

Introduction

Serco is a leading Space Services Provider with thousands of skilled resources that has supported over 50 space missions on behalf of more than 10 Space or Government agencies around the globe, including the ESA and NASA. Serco offers space capability across the full space lifecycle from satellite testing to Launch services, LEOP to spacecraft operations, space surveillance to data management, and supporting downstream application development. 

With this in mind, we are seeking a European-based AIT and Production engineer who supports ESA by providing hands‑on engineering oversight of the space segment assembly, integration, testing, and manufacturing activities, with a focus on IRIS² satellites. 

Working closely with industry and ESA teams, you would have the opportunity to follow up on satellite production and integration progress, support subsystem and segment‑level activities, and contribute to the definition and implementation of the AIT plan. You would participate in key industrial reviews and procurement activities, assesses technical deliverables, prepares review comments, and supports risk, interface, and trade‑off analyses to ensure that manufacturing and AIT activities are consistent with system requirements, schedules, and quality standards, ultimately enabling a smooth transition from production to qualification and in‑orbit validation.   

Your Mission

·         Provide engineering support for space segment assembly, integration and testing (AIT) activities, including support to satellite AIT industrial campaigns.
·         Follow up space segment manufacturing and integration activities, ensuring consistency with programme requirements and schedules.
·         Support space segment–related industrial procurement activities, including technical follow‑up of suppliers and production deliverables.
·         Provide technical support at space segment and subsystem level throughout production, integration, and testing phases.
·         Define, maintain, and support the AIT plan, ensuring alignment with system requirements and verification objectives.
·         Contribute to requirements engineering and consolidation relevant to production and integration activities.
·         Support functional and physical architecture definition as it impacts AIT and production processes.
·         Perform and support design trade‑off analyses related to manufacturing, integration, and test strategies.
·         Support interface definition and control affecting AIT flows and production interfaces.
·         Contribute to technical risk assessment associated with manufacturing, integration, and testing activities.
·         Support participation in industrial milestone reviews related to the space segment, including requirements, design, qualification, in‑orbit validation, and service declaration reviews.
·         Perform technical assessment of industrial deliverables related to AIT and production.
·         Prepare and consolidate review comments and Review Item Discrepancies (RIDs) for AIT‑related reviews.
·         Produce technical notes, trade‑off reports, and analysis inputs supporting qualification, accreditation, and risk management activities. 

What You'll Bring

·         Demonstrated hands‑on experience in space hardware AIT and production activities, including integration, test execution, and anomaly resolution.
·         Ability to define, maintain, and apply AIT plans, procedures, and test documentation aligned with system requirements and verification objectives.
·         Proven capability to technically follow up industrial manufacturing and integration activities and assess supplier deliverables.
·         Strong competence in space segment and subsystem engineering, with practical understanding of impacts on integration and test flows.
·         Experience preparing technical analyses, trade‑offs, and notes supporting production, integration, and test decisions.
·         Solid participation in industrial milestone reviews, providing structured review comments and actionable Review Item Discrepancies.
·         Ability to manage and support interface definition and control relevant to AIT and production activities.
·         Demonstrated skills in anomaly investigation, non‑conformance assessment, and deviation or waiver support.
·         Contribution to technical risk identification and mitigation during manufacturing, integration, and testing phases.
·         Clear, disciplined technical communication and documentation practices, ensuring traceability, configuration control, and effective coordination with ESA and industry. 

Technical
·         Work experience in the Space domain will be an asset
·         MSc, or equivalent qualification, in a relevant technical or scientific discipline will be an asset
·         Need to be EU national and eligible to obtain EU Personal Security Clearance. 

Personality
·         Effective management of self with track record of involvement in change in complex and demanding environments, interacting with individuals at all levels of the organization 
·         Methodical and proactive, with initiative and capability to work autonomously 
·         Problem-solving and creativity-oriented attitude 
·         ⁠Excellent communication skills, including relationship development and stakeholder management;  

What We Offer: More Than Just a Job

At Serco, we believe that a career should come with more than just a paycheck, it should provide support, security and a sense of balance in your life. Your salary will be paid promptly on Fridays before the 28th of each month, giving you peace of mind about your finances.

We support your daily life and commute in practical ways. If you travel to work, you can claim a travel allowance of €0.21 per kilometre for up to 150 km, or you can have your public transport fully reimbursed. For those working from home, there’s a small daily allowance of €2 to cover extra costs and new employees can be reimbursed up to €500 for a desk or chair to make their home workspace comfortable.

When your work takes you on missions or travel, all business-related expenses are fully covered and for peace of mind during tax season, our appointed advisor will assist you in completing your income tax forms. If you enjoy cycling, our bicycle scheme allows you to benefit from a tax-efficient allowance of up to €749, one year of full insurance with an additional €89 per year for accessories.

Serco also cares about your long-term security. All employees are covered under a collective life insurance scheme and our health insurance partnership with Zilverenkruis Achmea offers discounts of 5% on basic coverage and up to 10% on additional plans. Our company pension scheme, managed via Nationale Nederlanden, follows the Dutch State Pension framework, ensuring you can plan confidently for the future.

In addition, in emergency situations, you may request an advance salary payment of up to one month’s net salary at the discretion of your line manager. To support your wellbeing and daily work, we offer up to €250 reimbursement for work glasses to reduce blue light strain and provide access to Benefits & Work, offering multiple discounts for online shopping. For lifelong learning, all employees receive a 35% discount on programs at Webster University.

At Serco, our benefits are designed to make your life easier, healthier and more flexible, so you can focus on contributing to groundbreaking space missions while feeling supported every step of the way. 

Relocation

The Netherlands' central location in Europe makes it an ideal base for travel and business within the EU. Major cities are well-connected by road, rail and air with Amsterdam Schiphol Airport one of Europe's busiest and most well-connected airports, facilitating easy international travel.

Serco offers relocation support for all EU passport holders that are planning to relocate to the Netherlands and work for Serco B.V.